How to be more fuel-efficient during summer road trips
Summer means its road trip season for many. With countless highways and amazing destinations to see, summer is the best time to vacation for many people throughout the country. While vacation can be an enjoyable time, it also comes at an expense.
Here is the good news; there are ways to combat the rising costs of travel by being intentional with your planning and mindful in your driving. These simple, easy tips and tricks could save you a lot of money before arriving at your destination.
The HendrickCars.com blog has you covered:
Route Planning: The best way to limit your fuel consumption is to plan the route you intend to take. As you know, there are many different tools in the box to accomplish this, including GPS systems and mapping apps -- such as Google Maps – to help you find the most-efficient route. On travel day, we would suggest checking the app (or download Waze) to find out if there are any recent accidents or road closures on your route. Avoiding delays such as construction zones and heavy traffic can have a significant impact on your vehicles fuel economy.
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Vehicle Maintenance: Is your vehicle Road Ready? If not, we encourage you to schedule a Road Ready service appointment with one of our Hendrick Automotive Group service centers nationwide. Don’t get caught waiting on a tow truck in the heat and humidity of summer (and in the middle of nowhere) because a preventable service item gave way at the wrong time.
That being said, if you cannot have a professional inspection, the following are items that are a must-check before you hit the road.
Check Tire Pressure: Under-inflated tires can increase fuel consumption by up to 3%. That adds up over a long trip. Also, check for any damage to the tread patterns or if there’s any impending trouble with the wheel itself. Any bent or damaged wheels need to be replaced before your trip.
Regular Service: While Road Ready will catch any immediate issues with your vehicle, it is a good idea to make regular visits to your service center for routine maintenance throughout the lifecycle of your vehicle. If your engine is out of tune or there’s trouble with your cooling system, not only do you risk trip disruption, you are costing yourself money at the fuel pump as well. Also, make sure you are performing regular oil and fluid changes on your vehicle at the manufacturer-specified times of replacement. The longer you go with old oil or fluids, the more damage you can do.
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Alignment: Make sure your vehicle is in proper alignment, as a skewed vehicle will work harder in operation. The harder it works, the worse your fuel mileage and tire wear become, costing you time and money over a long trip.
Pack Light: Carrying excess weight can reduce fuel efficiency in your vehicle. When you pack, make a plan and stick to it, prioritizing only the things you need for the trip. If you are traveling with an excessive amount of luggage, you may want to invest in a cargo carrier maximized for your vehicle’s specific aerodynamics. Many manufacturers have specially designed items or aftermarket partnerships in this area, which will save wind resistance and additional fuel costs along the way.
Drive Smoothly: Well, this one is on you! Aggressive driving may be in your nature – especially when others on the road are less than cordial. However, rapid acceleration and hard braking can lower your vehicle’s fuel efficiency by up to 33% on the highway and 5% around town. Adopt a smoother driving style through gradual acceleration, coasting to a stop and maintaining a steady speed. If you have the ability and you are on the open road, modern-day cruise controls are very effective in maintaining a more consistent pace as well.
Use Air Conditioning Wisely: The first order of business is to make sure everything is running properly with your air conditioning system. Any leaks or damage is not only bad for the trip, it’s also much less fuel efficient. If you would like to learn more about how to maintain your A/C system, read this blog.
Outside of maintenance, there are ways you can help your vehicle with A/C efficiency even during the hottest of travel days.
Higher Speeds: The most efficient use of air conditioning comes at highway speed. However, using an air conditioner is more fuel-efficient, and often more comfortable, than opening your windows or sunroof and highway speeds.
Ventilate: One of the more overlooked items is ventilating your vehicle before driving. If it has sat in the hot sun for a while, before turning the A/C on, open your windows (and sunroof) and let any accumulated hot air escape. Your A/C and wallet will thank you later as it won’t have to work as hard to cool everything down.
Use a Comfortable Temperature: Don’t set the A/C to run at a temperature cooler than needed. Keep everything at a moderate, consistent level.
Avoid Idling: Idling your vehicle with the A/C on for long periods not only wastes fuel, it produces unnecessary emissions. If you are shopping for more than a minute, it is better to turn off your engine and before you go in. Modern vehicles do not need a warm-up period more than a few seconds ahead of driving.
Timing Matters: Building your drive time around cooler parts of the day can make a big difference. Late evening, overnight and early mornings are ideal times to get on the road during the summer. Not only will your vehicle not work as hard due to the cooler conditions, lesser traffic will also limit “stop-and-go” situations that hurts the efficiency of your vehicle.
Aerodynamics: Wind resistance can reduce your fuel efficiency, especially at highway speeds. Keep windows and sunroofs closed when driving on highways, and remove unused roof racks and luggage carriers when not in use. Even aero-efficient carriers create unneeded drag on your vehicle.
Monitor Your Speed: Greater the speed, the less fuel-efficient your vehicle becomes. Each 5 mph driven over 50 mph is an estimated $.20 per gallon of fuel addition to your overall budget – or more with rising costs. Stick to the speed limit and use cruise control to maintain a steady pace on the highway.
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By following these tips, you may be able to save a significant amount of money on your next trip. Not only will you tend to enjoy the journey more, you’ll be able to buy that extra treat or additional memento along the way. Happy and Safe Travels!
Speaking of summer fun, the Hendrick Summer Sales Event is under way. Shop our nationwide inventory of new, certified and pre-owned cars, trucks and SUVs available throughout the United States. The event includes a customer option to defer payments for 90 days! For more information on the sale, scroll down to the rules at the bottom of the page.
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